Illustration Friday: Similar

This week's Illustration Friday topic is Similar. Here's my interpretation:

Medium: Colored Pencils, Ink

Illustration Friday: Balloon

There's a great website, Illustration Friday, that posts a topic each week. People across the world illustrate that topic, then post it to the website. As I've said in a previous post, I'm by no means a professional. I just use this as a creative exercise.

This week's topic was "Balloon." Here's my interpretation:

Illustration Friday: Pretend

There's a great website, Illustration Friday, that posts a topic each week. People across the world illustrate that topic, then post it to the website.

This week's topic was "Pretend." Here's my interpretation:

Medium: Colored Pencils and Pen

Font: Gautami

Pamplet-Stitched Album on SALE!

My first item for sale is up on Etsy now!

Use this handmade journal to record your thoughts or use as a mini-album for scrapbooking. This book is completely acid-free, so it will preserve your memories for a lifetime.

Pamplet-stitching with 28 pages.

Measures 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches.

Check out my store!

Some Weekend Painting

Played around with some paint this weekend and added a new page to my art journal.

Supplies used: Paint (Apple Barrel, Anita's All Purpose Acrylic Paint); Gel Medium (Liquitex); Ghost Shape (Heidi Swapp); Button

Playful Painter's Pledge

Supplies: Heidi Swapp (masks, damask stamp, word stamp); Anita's All Purpose Acrylic Craft Paints (paint); Apple Barrell by PLAID (paint); Faber-Castell (pen); StazOn (ink); white cardstock

Painter's Pledge created for Got Paint? Big Picture Scrapbooking class. Decided to make it part of my journal instead of just signing the one that came with the class.

More Creative Play

Supplies: Liquitex (matte gel medium); Apple Barrel for PLAID (paint); Anita's All Purpose Acrylic Craft Paint (white paint); Faber-Castell (pen); StazOn (ink); "Room for Real Life" was cut out from a Pottery Barn catalog; Printed photo on regular paper at home with my HP Photosmart

Last night during our devotion time, Jason and I were studying about anxiety. Our book had this great poem that became the inspiration for this piece.

"Letting Go" (Anonymous)

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I don't control another.

To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another, I can only change myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to be protective, it is to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.

Letting go makes room for real life. Explore.

Friday Crafting

My sister, Nikki, and I decided that every Friday we will get together and scrapbook. For at least an hour. That's our resolution to getting more scrapbooking time in. You have to MAKE time for it.

Since my word is EXPLORE, I took some time to explore new techniques. First, I made a journal to chronicle my journey to getting fit. I'm determined this year that I will become fit and healthy. I'm not focusing on a certain weight or size...just on being in a healthy weight range and being able to do fun activities like Dance Dance Revolution without sweating and huffing and puffing in the first millisecond.

My inspiration for the journal came from Donna Downey's Decorative Journals book. It is a must read! Even if you don't journal, you will find inspiration for your next crafting project in this book.

Inside cover:

Supplies used: Lil' Davis (patterned paper, chipboard accent); StazOn (ink); Making Memories (foam alphabet stamps, paint); Martha Stewart for EK Success (acrylic alphabet stamps); Faber-Castell (pen); Modge Podge (adhesive); index card notebook

Then I went on to make the album for my Project 365 photos. I used a gluestick and brayer to put the paper on this album. Worked wonders! Didn't bubble up like Modge Podge. I prefer Modge Podge for smaller albums or items with many sides, but for a large album with a 12x12 paper adhered to it - a good old glue stick works better.

Supplies used: American Crafts (album); Spare Parts (fabric alpha tabs); KI Memories (patterned paper); Making Memories (foam alphabet stamps); StazOn (ink); Faber-Castell (pen); UHU glue stick (adhesive)

And, as if I couldn't create more in one night, I did an entry for my art journal. This year I've decided to explore the paint medium. I've loved what other people are doing with art journals. Similar to a written journal, you make periodic entries. But instead of just words on paper, you paint, glue, collage, make art. A combination of words and pictures. Whatever you fancy.

I'm taking a class with Big Picture Scrapbooking called Got Paint?. It's already one of my favorite classes so far. Registration closes tomorrow, so sign up if you are interested. Taught by Emily Falconbridge, the class pushes you to use paint on your scrapbook pages. And more than just inking the side of the page. So, the first week's project was to start an art journal. This one is simply 6x6 cardstock bound by book rings.

Supplies used: Apple Barrell by PLAID (paint); Anita's All-Purpose Acrylic Paint (white paint); Making Memories (foam alphabet stamps); StazOn (ink); Faber-Castell (pen); Liquitex (matte gel medium); vintage book page; white cardstock; toilet paper tube

If you read my supply list you will notice an odd supply. Yes, I used the tube from toilet paper. I used it to stamp the oval/circles on the page. You could also use a paper towel tube. I would cut it down to size, though, so it's easier to stamp with.

Notice I used my word?!?

If you want to make an art journal, but you don't want to take a class on it, I recommend downloading Donna Downey's instructions. I bought her online class (which is an instant download instead of taking a scheduled class) and a board book. Looking forward to playing with that one as well.